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Enabling the Mobile Workforce With Secure Forms and Electronic Signatures

Posted on by Pat Pulliam and Noah Campbell

In this era of a largely remote and globally distributed workforce, where most workers want to be productive wherever they are — and on any device — it’s crucial to secure every endpoint from any threat that could compromise the security, prosperity, and integrity of an organization and its critical infrastructure. This is particularly true for governments and regulated industries.

Secure Forms for Productivity and Security

Forms are essential to all organizations, as they are a part of all important business processes, and a vital element of the customer journey. Forms are essential to collect information, progress the next best action, and deliver services. As with any heavily relied-on technology, forms’ security must be top of mind. Traditionally, the answer to this demand has been to gate our most mission-critical forms and documents behind cumbersome desktop technology. In this way, stakeholders had peace of mind that the verification of signature authenticity, and document chain-of-custody, could be protected and maintained.

BlackBerry Adobe Electronic Signatures Blog Embedded Image 2024

However, today’s workforce demands more options. Modern technology enables forms, and their connected digital document workflows, to deliver an optimized and personalized experience for the user — all while maintaining strong authentication, privacy, security, and adherence to data governance policies. As organizations continue to accommodate increasingly complex models for remote productivity, digital document workflows must flex with the times. They must be designed, deployed, and dispatched using intuitive interfaces and automation, across a wide range of mobile devices.

BlackBerry and Adobe: Innovation for Secure Mobile Productivity

To accomplish this forms maturity journey, BlackBerry and Adobe have partnered to deliver an innovative and secure digital document-signing solution, for governments and regulated industries. By combining and , the two industry leaders have created a solution that is designed for mobile devices, yet still meets the rigorous security standards required by governments and the world’s most demanding enterprises.

This partnership between BlackBerry and Adobe enables the following outcomes:

It’s now possible to fill and sign forms with a smart card (i.e., CAC, PIV) easily and securely, from any device, anywhere, without requiring a VPN (virtual private network)
Automatically maintain verified credentials in a secure keystore
Granular management and document tracking capabilities are backed by the most trusted and reliable security in the market
Employees can leave sensitive desktop computing technology behind, at home or the office, minimizing security risks while enhancing user convenience

BlackBerry UEM leverages private key certificates to secure the connection to Adobe Experience Manager Forms, allowing employees to complete and sign forms and other documents from anywhere, on their corporate-issued or BYO (bring your own) mobile devices, and without a VPN.

Leveraging Security as a Strategic Enabler for Productivity

Enhancing productivity requires adopting dynamic, responsive, and mobile-friendly forms solutions that are easy to use. Adobe Experience Manager Forms embraces this, while enabling organizations to modernize their data capture and digital document workflows into a seamless, agile user experience. It allows users to capture data and authenticated signatures, and integrates into back-end systems to automate manual workflows. Adobe Experience Manager Forms also allows users to move away from paper or static PDF forms, while also embracing multiple benefits, including:

Responsive modern forms: Embrace operational modernization with mobile responsive, web-based forms, on any device, at any point in the discovering, filing, and signing process.
Scalable authoring: With the ability to create reusable sections and templates, and an easy drag-and-drop interface, Adobe Experience Manager Forms allows organizations to streamline business processes across the enterprise at scale.
Meaningful customer conversations: Powerful data integrations with pre-fill and multi-language support automatically personalize forms and communications, and trigger the next-best action.
Automation: Adobe Experience Manager Forms enables you to start on one device, then save and resume on another, to make end-to-end customer journeys faster. This reduces cost and saves time. Mobile and web-based forms combined with smart, certificate-based signature tools and automated workflows, help eliminate paper and laborious manual processes.

These outcomes, which have previously been considered out of reach for governments and regulated industries, are made possible by the best-of-breed security, and intuitive user experience, of BlackBerry UEM.

Awarded the most government security certifications of any unified endpoint manager, and approved for both classified and unclassified use, BlackBerry UEM is trusted by organizations around the world. Customers that trust BlackBerry UEM to keep them always-on, and securely connected, include the federal governments of numerous countries around the world, including the Canadian and U.S. governments, and many of the largest and most prestigious players in the global financial services industry. Announced earlier this year, BlackBerry UEM was named a 2023 Customers’ Choice for unified endpoint management tools on — the only UEM tool to receive the distinction this year.

Digital document workflows should not be limited to desktop environments. Business value can no longer be delayed or denied by lack of mobile support for securely completing and signing electronic documents. Productivity must not come at the cost of security. The innovative partnership between BlackBerry and Adobe holds the answer.

Contact a member of our team today to learn more about how, together, BlackBerry and Adobe can help modernize your organization with the most secure forms and electronic signature technologies.

Enhancing Government Creative Teams with Adobe Creative Cloud

Posted on by Gary Reburn

As government agencies continue to modernize their workflows, the need for advanced creative tools becomes increasingly paramount. Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) offers a suite of applications that can revolutionize how government creative teams operate. This blog will delve into the latest features in Adobe CC applications and how they can benefit government creative teams, enhancing productivity, creativity, and collaboration.

Adobe Photoshop: Elevating Image Editing

Adobe Photoshop remains the cornerstone of digital image editing. The latest updates introduce a revamped user interface that is more intuitive, making it easier for new users to navigate while providing seasoned professionals with a more streamlined experience.

Enhanced color adjustment tools allow for more precise control over color grading, crucial for producing high-quality images that meet stringent government standards. The improved selection tools enable users to refine selections with unprecedented accuracy, ensuring that every detail in a project is meticulously handled.

One of the standout features is the integration with Adobe Firefly AI. This includes AI Expand, AI Fill, AI Text Generation, and AI Object Selections, which significantly reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks. Government teams can leverage these AI-powered tools to accelerate their workflow, focusing more on creativity and less on mundane tasks.

Adobe Lightroom: Seamless Photo Management and Editing

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Adobe Lightroom offers robust tools for photo management and editing, making it ideal for government agencies that handle large volumes of photographic content. The new importing options, including cloud and local drive features, provide greater flexibility in managing assets.

The user interface enhancements facilitate smoother navigation, allowing teams to work more efficiently. Tools like exposure and color balance are crucial for maintaining consistency across projects. The addition of Blur tools and Lens Blur features further enhance the creative possibilities, enabling users to achieve professional-grade edits effortlessly.

Moreover, the seamless integration with Adobe Photoshop means that assets edited in Lightroom can be transitioned to Photoshop for further refinement, ensuring a cohesive workflow.

Adobe Illustrator: Vector Graphics Excellence

Adobe Illustrator is essential for creating high-quality vector graphics. The application’s core tools, such as the Pen tool and Shape tool, have been refined for better usability. Whether starting with the Banana tool or Pen tool, users can quickly determine the best approach for their project.

Adobe Firefly AI’s capabilities in Illustrator are transformative. From generating backgrounds and icons to utilizing color editing tools, Firefly AI enhances creative efficiency. Features like Generative Recolor and vector artwork generation allow government teams to produce sophisticated graphics with ease, ensuring their visual communications are both impactful and professional.

Adobe InDesign: Streamlined Document Design

Adobe InDesign is a powerful tool for creating polished documents. Efficient document setup and the use of the Pages panel streamline the design process, making it easier to organize and navigate projects.

Importing text and ensuring proper formatting are crucial for maintaining consistency in government documents. Standardized character and paragraph styles save time and ensure a professional look. The Link panel and its embedding features simplify file management, reducing the risk of broken links and ensuring all assets are properly integrated.

Adobe Premiere Rush and Premiere Pro: Video Editing Mastery

Adobe Premiere Rush provides a comprehensive tutorial and tool layout for learning the user interface, making it accessible for all skill levels. Loading video files and constructing a well-organized timeline are straightforward, and the shortcut windows enhance editing workflows.

Premiere Rush’s layout and formatting options enhance the visual appeal of projects, while the export feature simplifies the finalization process. For more advanced video editing needs, Adobe Premiere Pro offers a user-friendly design with enhanced Sequence Preset options and a redesigned Motion Graphics Template Workspace.

Firefly AI integration in Premiere Pro, with features like removing filler text and “Edit by text” functionality, streamlines the editing process. Enhanced trimming and multiple camera improvements ensure a smoother and more polished video editing experience, ideal for government projects requiring high-quality visual content.

Adobe Stock and Adobe Express: Access to Extensive Creative Assets

Adobe Stock serves as a versatile reservoir for licensed images, audio, video, templates, and more. Its extensive filters allow users to fine-tune searches, ensuring they find exactly what they need. The license file history feature simplifies tracking and managing licensed items.

Integration with Adobe Express demonstrates the ease of creating posts and utilizing Adobe Stock’s library for customization. Firefly AI capabilities, such as Text-to-Image and Generative Fill, bring AI-powered magic to users’ fingertips. Adobe Express enables quick video edits with preset transitions and royalty-free video options, perfect for government agencies looking to produce engaging content efficiently.

Adobe Experience Manager: Efficient Digital Asset Management

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Assets offers powerful digital asset management, essential for government teams managing extensive content. Asset tagging and folder organization maximize productivity, while seamless collaboration facilitates effective content creation and distribution.

The tight integration between AEM and Adobe Creative Cloud enhances asset lifecycle management, ensuring all digital assets are efficiently managed and utilized across projects.

Adobe Creative Cloud’s latest features provide government creative teams with advanced tools to enhance their productivity and creativity. From image editing and photo management to vector graphics, document design, video editing, and digital asset management, Adobe CC applications cater to diverse needs, ensuring government agencies can deliver high-quality content with efficiency and precision. Embracing these tools can significantly elevate the capabilities of government creative teams, fostering innovation and excellence in their work.

Additionally, if you or anyone you know would like to dive deeper into Adobe creative applications and how they can be applied to current government projects, watch the on-demand recordings from our 8-part webinar series, Elevate Creative Workflows with AI-Enhanced Digital Designs, to discover how Adobe Creative Cloud solutions play a pivotal role in accelerating creative workflows and leverages AI to facilitate the efficient development of digital experiences.

Contact our Adobe solutions experts today for a experts demonstration on how to utilize the newest tools, upgrades, features, and integration capabilities that teams across all fields can leverage for compelling and exciting digital designs.

Adobe Express: The Content Creation Powerhouse

Posted on by Gary Reburn

Adobe Max 2023 has finally arrived, and with it came a slew of intuitive new features and software options. As expected, Adobe’s primary focus this year was on its powerful AI innovations and tools. Unexpectedly however, Adobe Express, an application which previously was focused on social media content creation has received an enormous upgrade. So, let’s talk about these exciting new features and why it’s exciting for the government space.

Adobe Express is a powerful software suite that has gained significant traction in various industries for its user-friendly interface and versatile tools. While it’s widely known for its applications in creative fields such as graphic design, marketing, and content creation, its potential in the government space remains largely untapped and yet to be fully realized. Its adaptability and diverse functionalities make it an asset for government agencies seeking efficient solutions for their content related projects.

One of the primary advantages of Adobe Express in the government sector is its ability to streamline communication. The software allows for the creation of visually engaging documents, presentations, and reports, enabling agencies to convey complex information in a more digestible and visually appealing manner. Whether it’s producing internal reports or communicating with the public, the software’s intuitive design tools aid in crafting impactful visual content, enhancing the effectiveness of government messages.

Adobe Express Content Creation Blog Embedded Image 2023

Furthermore, Adobe Express’s compatibility with various file formats ensures seamless integration with existing government systems. This feature is pivotal in maintaining consistency and compatibility across different departments and agencies, facilitating the exchange of information and collaboration between various governmental bodies. It promotes a standardized approach to document creation, reducing compatibility issues and simplifying the sharing of information.

Data security and compliance are of utmost importance in the government sector, and Adobe Express offers robust security features to ensure the protection of sensitive information. With encryption, user authentication, and secure cloud storage options, the software provides a level of security essential for government use.

Another aspect worth highlighting is the software’s ability to handle a wide variety of tasks within government operations. From creating visually rich training materials for employees to designing public awareness campaigns, Adobe Express caters to a wide range of needs. Its features enable the development of interactive forms, streamlined workflows, and the creation of accessible content, ensuring inclusivity within government initiatives.

In addition, the software’s capacity for analytics and data visualization aids in the communication and presentation of complex information. This capability is invaluable in governmental decision-making processes, enabling officials to comprehend data more effectively and communicate insights to stakeholders and the public.

The use of Adobe Express can also lead to cost and time efficiencies within government departments. The software’s user-friendly interface reduces the need for extensive training, allowing employees to quickly grasp its functionalities. Its cloud-based solutions minimize the need for extensive physical infrastructure, reducing costs related to storage and maintenance.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the implementation of Adobe Express in government operations becomes increasingly relevant. However, its adoption may require tailored training programs and guidelines to ensure its optimal use and adherence to government protocols and standards.

In conclusion, Adobe Express offers a variety of tools and features that can significantly benefit government agencies. From enhancing communication and data security to fostering efficiency and innovation, its application in the government space holds immense potential, paving the way for more effective and visually compelling government initiatives.

Contact our team today to learn more about the latest trends discussed at Adobe MAX 2023 and how ̽��Ƶ’s Adobe experts can support your organization.

IRS Uses Digital Signatures for Improved Public Experiences

Posted on by Ashley Weston

At the start of March 2022, the IRS launched the Taxpayer Experience Office (TEO) to improve taxpayers’ experience with digital tools, such as fully transparent accounts, expanded e-File and payment options, digital signatures, and secure two-way messaging. TEO is working with their IT, digitalization, and policy shops to identify projects that will produce the most modernization, according to agency officials. The four offices are meant to coordinate the expedition of either internal or external processes, depending on the ROI, with TEO��handling the former and the��Enterprise Digitalization and Case Management Office��(EDCMO) the latter. “For its part, EDCMO focuses on taking paper processes digital where the cost savings are highest and the processing hours and employees in seats lowest”.^[^]The main goal is to optimize business processes and technology, which normally begins with small digital transformations, but EDCMO already achieved a 178% ROI in its first year, which indicates a promising future for their endeavors.^[^]

Opportunities in the Field of Digital Modernization

The IRS��issued the first wave of job postings��for more than 200 technologists back in March of 2022, as it plans to hire to continue��modernizing IT. Positions range from entry-level to supervisory across system development, architecture, engineering, cybersecurity, IT operations, network services and customer support.

Desired skillsets are cloud, zero-trust security, low- and no-code enterprise platforms, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and NoSQL databases. The IRS faces a daunting, largely paper-based backlog of tax returns every year, so shifting to digital will help streamline to make these yearly processes run smoother and faster. As was the case with COVID-19 recovery, the IRS is also called upon to administer relief, like Economic Impact Payments and advance payments of the Child Tax Credit. They are also instances of processes that could be made more efficient by implementing digital solutions because of the quicker turnaround that those platforms provide in comparison to manual, paper-based ones.^[^]

Digital Signature Service Authorization and Adoption within Government Agencies

The IRS is a notable example, but agencies within the Department of Defense are leaning into the trend of digital signature use as well. This initiative requires an effort in tandem from the industry side and the government side to achieve the necessary compliances for ensuring proper security across platforms. One of the main authorizations that these government entities and digital services must adhere to is the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which provides a standardized approach to security authorizations for Cloud Service Offerings. According to the FedRAMP Program Management Office, there are two ways to authorize a Cloud Service Offering (CSO) through FedRAMP—via an individual agency or the Joint Authorization Board (JAB). The authorization process involves selecting an authorization process, preparation, authorization, and then continuous monitoring as part of the main steps. There are currently 20 Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) under the status of “ready,” 96 “in process,” and 309 classified as “authorized” through the program. Digital signature solutions, being cloud-based services, must adhere to this type of authorization to be considered for use within many government agencies. As more agencies vouch for these services and work together with CSPs to secure certifications, more agencies, in turn, are also able to adopt them to achieve maximum efficiency.^[^]

What Can Digital Signatures Help Accomplish?

Digital signatures greatly reduce the time spent during transactions. As noted across articles and input from the most successful signature providers featured on LinkedIn, they can greatly improve the day-to-day for businesses operating in a post-pandemic hybrid world, and the same benefits apply to government agencies.

Most notably, trusted digital signatures can help in the following:

Security: A digital signature confirms that all signers are who they claim to be, and it prevents retroactive alterations to the signed document or tampering in general.

Time: Signing a document with ink does not take any longer than signing with a digital signature, but the time it takes to move a wet signature document along to each recipient can take days or even weeks. In comparison, a digitally signed document can be delivered in minutes via email.

Collaboration: Working remote or employing physical distancing interfere with the ability to come together for document transactions. Even with the re-appearance of in-person operations, digital signatures allow quicker turnaround and provide the additional convenience of eliminating the need to convene in person.

The Environment: From the number of trees that go into printed sheets of paper to the amount of carbon emissions that can be saved, digital signatures are the green alternative to paper-based wet signatures.

Legality: Digital signatures uphold in legality across the US and globally, specifically by adhering to the E-Sign Act of 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).

Check out this on-demand webinar for more information on this series and how Adobe can support your organization’s digital transformation initiatives.

Resources:

[1] Nyczepir, Dave. “IRS Teams Old and New Working in Tandem on IT Modernization.” FedScoop, March 21, 2022. .

[2] How to Become FedRAMP Authorized. Accessed July 5, 2023. .

How to Achieve your Agency’s Customer Experience Goals

Posted on by Tiffany Goddard

Customer experience pervades every aspect of what the government does — and some might argue, why it exists. What’s more, it has become profoundly clear that everyone is a customer. There are the obvious customers, people across the nation. But then there are current and former federal employees, businesses large and small, the government’s contracting community, other agencies and even other nations. Likely, there are more. Unlike a private company, a federal agency often has no competitor for its services. That fact has created a lag in the evolution of federal CX and digital services — relative to what businesses and nongovernment organizations typically provide today and what people now expect. Agencies are on it now though. The presidential executive order on customer experience of December 2021 targets the need to evolve CX and points up the destructive affect that poor service delivery has on public trust. Download the guide to learn how to meet the expectations of the public, as well as the many other customers agencies serve, with a multipronged strategy that focuses on culture, processes and technology.

Want to Enhance Customer Experience? Here’s Where to Start

“The key to the success of Farmers.gov is its simplicity, Bremby said. USDA has put all the information farmers need in a single place and made it easy for them to complete the necessary processes to receive services. USDA consolidated seven digital systems and 150 web resources into one intelligent platform that follows a user’s progress. And that, Bremby noted, is the biggest metric for success in customer experience: Did the customer complete the transaction? Or did they drop off somewhere in the middle of the process, like abandoning a cart while shopping online?”

Read more insights from Rod Bremby, Regional Vice President for Global Public Sector at Salesforce.

Meaningful Communication Creates the Foundation for Good Customer Experience

“Agencies are familiar with traditional communications media. They engage with public relations firms and the news media to promote stories. They conduct public awareness campaigns across every available platform, from bus stop advertisements to social media, and they tend to be pretty good at driving broad awareness. Where they fall short though, Peterson said, is more granular, personalized messaging.”

Read more insights from Angy Peterson, Vice President at Granicus.

How Federal Agencies can Pivot to Experience-driven Government

“People who rely on government services are usually accessing them at critical junctures in their lives, often moments of profound need. They’re looking for relief in the aftermath of a natural disaster, for public health data during an epidemic, for financial stability in retirement, and for ways to prepare for growth or cope with losses affecting their families and businesses. That’s why agencies need to pivot to experience-driven government, meeting citizens where they’re at in their journeys and connecting them with the right services at the right time.”

Read more insights from James Hanson, Head of Industry Strategy for the Public Sector at Adobe.

Don’t Let a Cyber Staff Shortage Weaken Your Defenses

“Federal agencies are taking note and have started making significant strides toward digital transformation, driven in no small part by recent directives, including the president’s executive order on customer experience. While competitive pressures often motivate private sector enterprises to invest in innovation, the government’s greatest competition is usually the status quo. Agencies have been delivering services in the same way for so long that impacting change requires redirecting institutional inertia — to say nothing of overcoming budgetary obstacles. One way for agencies to get started on this journey is to begin digitizing agreements.”

Read more insights from Michael “MJ” Jackson, Vice President and Global Head of Industries at DocuSign.

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Here are 3 Phases to Begin Modernizing Customer Experience Right Away

“For years, agencies have been researching, modernizing and overhauling how customers experience doing business with the federal government. Over the course of several presidential administrations, with the help of Office of Management and Budget mandates, presidential executive orders and an influx of customer experience talent, there has been a noticeable shift toward organizational CX management approaches. Agencies have an opportunity to take full advantage of technological advances to improve customer experience management capacity at scale. Advances in cloud technology, data analytics and new communications channels have opened up new avenues to improve an agency’s capability to design and deliver services for both customers and federal employees.”

Read more insights from Matt Chong, Vice President of Federal at Qualtrics.

Download the full Expert Edition for more insights from these customer experience leaders and additional government interviews, historical perspectives and industry research.

Shaping the Future With 3D Software in Government

Posted on by Gary Reburn

Over the past few years, the use of 3D software has become increasingly important in Government Agencies. With advances in technology, government officials are turning to 3D software to help them visualize, analyze, and design projects with greater efficiency and effectiveness. This technology can provide several benefits, including improved collaboration, better decision-making, and increased efficiency.

One of the most significant benefits of 3D software is the ability to create realistic visualizations of data and designs. This is particularly useful in areas such as architecture, urban planning, and transportation. By using 3D software, government agencies can create realistic models of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, allowing stakeholders to see how designs will look in the real world. This can help to identify potential issues early in the planning process, leading to more efficient and cost-effective solutions.

For example, a city planning department could use 3D software to create a digital model of a new highway interchange. The model could be used to identify potential traffic bottlenecks, analyze the impact on nearby neighborhoods, and make design modifications to optimize traffic flow and minimize the impact on the community. By using 3D software, the planning department can gain valuable insights into the project and make better decisions that benefit both the city and its residents.

Another benefit of 3D software is improved collaboration. By creating 3D models of designs and data, government agencies can share information more easily and effectively with stakeholders. This can lead to better communication and a greater understanding of the issues at hand. Additionally, 3D software allows multiple stakeholders to view and interact with the same model, allowing for more efficient collaboration and problem-solving.

For instance, a team of engineers and architects working on a public works project could use 3D software to create a digital model of the project. The model could be shared with all team members, allowing them to see and interact with the same information. This would facilitate better communication and collaboration, as team members could identify potential issues and make design modifications in real time.

3D software can also improve decision-making in government agencies. By visualizing data and designs in 3D, agencies can better understand complex systems and identify potential problems before they occur. This can help agencies to make more informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Additionally, 3D software can help agencies to evaluate the impact of different policy decisions, allowing for more effective planning and resource allocation.

For example, a state transportation department could use 3D software to evaluate the impact of a proposed toll increase on highway usage. The department could create a 3D model of the highway system and use data analytics to simulate different traffic scenarios. This would allow them to evaluate the impact of the proposed toll increase and make more informed decisions about transportation policy.

Finally, 3D software can increase efficiency in government agencies. By using 3D software to create models and visualizations, agencies can streamline their workflows and reduce the time and resources required for planning and analysis. This can lead to faster decision-making and more effective use of resources.

For instance, a Federal agency could use 3D software to analyze satellite imagery of a natural disaster area. The software could automatically generate 3D models of the disaster area, allowing the agency to quickly assess the extent of the damage and prioritize response efforts. This would reduce the time required for manual analysis and allow the agency to more efficiently allocate resources.

In conclusion, the use of 3D software in government agencies can provide several benefits, including improved collaboration, better decision-making, and increased efficiency. As technology continues to advance, 3D software will likely become an increasingly important tool for government agencies across a range of fields.

If you or anyone you know would like to dive deeper into the Adobe creative applications and how they can be applied to current government projects, watch the on-demand recordings from our 8-part webinar series, Engage Audiences Across Screens with Powerful Collaboration and Creation.

Discover how Adobe Creative Cloud solutions accelerate creative workflows, allow for content creation across all screens and mediums, and enable quick and efficient creation of digital experiences. Our team of Adobe solutions experts demonstrate how to utilize the newest tools, upgrades, features, and integration capabilities that teams across all fields can leverage for compelling and exciting digital designs.